1/4/2012 Listening Lounge

Sit With Me by Mike Bernstein
A candid portrait of growing up with a parent who has mental illness. Having a depressed parent can take its toll on childhood. It re-frames how children look at the world and it asks them to grow up a little bit faster. We'll hear a moving dialogue between 12-yr-old Cameron and his father, Bob. Both parties feel helpless -- but Cameron asks, what can I do to help?

Always Been With Me by Rehman Tungekar
Roughly 6 million Americans struggle with bipolar disorder, a disease that consists of manic highs and crushing lows. For many of these people, conventional medication does not work. As a result, they’re forced to seek out alternative forms of treatment. Electroconvulsive therapy is one such form. We'll hear from Amy, a young woman in Maine that relies on ECT to treat her bipolar disorder.

The Saddest President from The Memory Palace
Franklin Pierce's amiable personality and handsome appearance caused him to make many friends, but he suffered much tragedy in his personal life. As president, he made many divisive decisions which have been widely criticized and earned him a reputation as one of the worst presidents in U.S. history.